From 3D printed sugar confections, to quirky greeting cards, DnA drew on its featured designers for Valentine’s Day ideas.
It’s that time of year again, where love is in the air, or perhaps its just the seasonal winds. In any case, Valentine’s Day is on Friday, and if you want to impress your loved one with a gift that shows your connection with L.A.’s design community, we’ve got just the list for you.
1. Support DnA and KCRW–Become a Member!
Love is the theme of this winter’s pledge drive, and by that we don’t just mean romantic love, but passion for the cultural life and community of Los Angeles, channeled through the programmers on KCRW. DnA is the place to hear the latest on designers, architects, and makers in L.A., but this show is just one of the many great programs that KCRW offers.
L.A. Foodie’s Drew Hubbard and Ben Waters showed us how much they love KCRW by making this series of “trips” in the “Magical KCRW Tote Bag.” Listen up to these trippy pitches for DnA (also in audio at end of this post), Good Food, and The Treatment.
Become a monthly member, and save money on products, cultural events and future dinners with your Fringe Benefits Card.
2. Liz and Kyle von Hasseln
This week DnA’s featured designers were high school sweethearts before they went on to build a futuristic baking company together whose geometric creations will appeal to any fashion-forward foodie! Sci-Arc graduates Liz and Kyle von Hasseln founded Sugar Lab, a design firm recently acquired by 3D Systems, that 3D prints edible sugar confections in complex geometric shapes. Special for Valentine’s Day, they are making 3D printed chocolate roses that can be purchased from Cubify.
3. Give your loved one a greeting card by ASHKAHN
South Bay native Ashkahn Shahparnia’s greeting cards are blunt, humorous and colorful expressions that are great for a friend, family member, or significant other with a designer’s eye and a sense of humor. DnA’s Danielle Rago interviewed ASHKAHN about his surf/punk/beach culture aesthetic in December and found out about how Shepard Fairey influenced his work.
4. Share a Grover box
Last week DnA spoke with the CEO/Creative Director behind Grover, a mens basics line that brings the ‘delight’ factor in the form of a monthly subscription service where each month is a surprise in a box. You give your size, and they decide the rest. You can count on receiving a T-Shirt, but as far as other items go, you may get a raincoat, a wallet, or even hygiene products. Grover was conceived by men for men but DnA’s Caroline Chamberlain received a Grover box, and found that many of the basics work great for women as well, and decided to share the contents with her boyfriend. How better to show your love than by treating yourself and your partner to a regular, surprising box of made-in-LA basics.
5. Take up a shared hobby, like gardening! And get this patio garden in a box by Scout Regalia
Earlier this year, DnA featured Makoto Mizutani and Benjamin Luddy, the two halves of Scout Regalia, a designing duo that is building itself a reputation for hardy, locally crafted spaces and products that are inspired by LA’s outdoorsy life. This planter box exemplifies the Scout Regalia aesthetic, and is a convenient impetus to start sowing the seeds with a loved one.
Take a trip in the Magical KCRW Tote Bag, here: